Press release

Mon, Feb 25th 2013 03:50 pm

Projects are expected to cut electricity costs by
$680,000 annually

The
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority announced Monday that
the Erie County Medical Center Corp. was awarded $1.4 million to support two
energy efficiency projects that are projected to cut electricity costs by
roughly $680,000 annually.

The
first project is for upgrades to the central cooling plant at the medical center,
including chiller and cooling tower replacements. Total investment is
approximately $6 million. NYSERDA is providing almost $1.2 million for the
upgrades as well as cost-sharing for a feasibility study conducted by M/E
Engineering P.C., which helped the medical center optimize its
energy-efficiency investments. This project is estimated to save the medical center
more than 5 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power
more than 720 average-sized homes for a year.

The
second project includes measures to save energy at ECMC Corp.'s Terrace View long-term
care facility, a 300,000-square-foot, five-story building that opened this
month. The facility is on the 65-acre ECMC Health Campus in Buffalo and
includes patient rooms, eating and leisure areas, and professional and
administrative areas. The NYSERDA incentive is $220,000. The measures
incorporated into the new building will help reduce energy costs by more than
$250,000 annually and decrease electricity consumption by more than 1.5 million
kilowatt hours, enough to power more than 200 homes a year.

"These
projects demonstrate that the energy efficiency programs available through
NYSERDA allow hospitals to put more money into patient care as they reduce
their energy costs," said Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA.
"Under Gov. Cuomo's leadership, the state's support for the Erie County Medical
Center Corp. projects is part of a larger effort to improve the efficiency and
profitability of this critical economic sector in New York state."

"ECMC
is very fortunate to have partnered with NYSERDA in the endeavor to improve our
chilled water plant," stated Kevin M. Madoo, P.E., supervisor of design, ECMC
Corp. "NYSERDA's assistance allowed us to install state-of-the-art, low-energy-consuming
equipment while implementing cost-effective energy conservation strategies for
controlling that equipment. This project not only augments the capacity and
quality of our chilled water operations, but also allows for exceptionally
efficient operations that ultimately will save energy and utility costs. We
look forward to working with NYSERDA again on future projects here for ECMC."

Kenneth
J. Swan, manager of commissioning and LEED services at M/E Engineering P.C.,
said, "NYSERDA's support for these projects allows ECMC Corp. to install
equipment that is purchased initially at a premium cost compared to
conventional equipment, but will generate significant operational and
maintenance savings for years to come."

The
central cooling plant upgrades provide a state-of-the-art chiller plant that
not only serves the existing medical center, but also the new construction at
the campus. The chilled water distribution system upgrades will optimize the
operation of the plant, according to Swan, varying the flow of chilled water
being pumped based on seasonal temperature, humidity conditions and internal
building loads.

FlexTech
provides objective and customized information to help businesses operating in
New York state make intelligent energy decisions. A dedicated team of
engineers, technology experts and energy consultants works with customers and
their consultant teams to create a customized assessment that identifies
specific opportunities for reducing energy consumption and costs.

The
Existing Facilities Program offers a portfolio of incentive opportunities to
offset the costs of energy improvements in existing commercial and
institutional facilities across New York. It works with customers to implement
a comprehensive strategy to realize verified energy savings through an
integrated approach to cost-effective energy efficiency measures.

The
New Construction Program provides technical support to design teams and
financial incentives to building owners involved in the construction of new or
substantially renovated structures in New York. It is a first-come,
first-served program available to commercial, institutional and industrial
sector customers of certain utilities. New Construction Program incentives are
paid out upon project completion. The intent of the program is not only to
improve energy efficiency and green building practices, but to effect a
permanent transformation in the way buildings are designed and constructed
throughout the state.

Since
taking office in January 2011, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has targeted the
revitalization of the Buffalo and Western New York economy as a top priority
that will contribute to the overall strength and vitality of New York.

His
commitment to Buffalo and Western New York is evidenced in his unprecedented $1
billion pledge to reinvigorate the city's and region's economy, leverage
additional private sector investment and create a sustainable economy today and
for generations to come. Additionally, the governor's creation of the statewide
Regional Economic Development Councils resulted in the Western New York
Regional Economic Development Council's successful submissions in 2011 and 2012
that will bring $153.1 million in state funding to key development projects.
Projects will focus on eight industry sectors that are essential to Buffalo's
future growth and development: health and life sciences, advanced
manufacturing, energy, higher education, professional services, agriculture, binational
logistics and tourism.

The
ECMC Corp. includes an advanced academic medical center (ECMC) with 550 inpatient
beds and 136 skilled-nursing-home beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more
than 30 outpatient specialty care services and a long-term care facility. ECMC
is the regional center for trauma, burn care, transplantation and
rehabilitation, and is a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo.
Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of
the university and/or members of a private practice plan.